THE Samhain souls may have returned to the underworld once again but the spirit of Halloween still lives on in a special collection of stories now available to view online, capturing some of the very best tales of terror from across the North West.
The Gathering is a virtual collection of spooky stories created by local people and compiled by local author and playwright Anne McMaster as part of the Derry Halloween Wicked Words Project.
The project aimed to provide a platform for creative folk of all ages across Derry and Strabane to blow away the creative cobwebs and get engaged with audiences through the medium of frightening fiction.
The collection has now been compiled into a special digital book which can be viewed online from today.
From bloodthirsty butchers and monstrous makeovers, to petrifying possessions, frightening fiends and the terrifying Mr. Tickles, these stories are guaranteed to run their icy fingers down your spine, and keep you up at night, as Anne reveals.
But she hopes the stories will inspire other budding authors to try their hand at some creepy creative writing.
“At this time of Coronavirus, we’re isolated from family and friends while everything remains in flux,” she explained.
“This project, however, has been a delightful way for creative people to connect, to communicate their ideas confidently and to build better mental, physical and emotional health as they shape words on the page.
“Why not try putting your own pen to paper after you’ve made your way through this creepy collection? You might be pleasantly surprised at what you can come up with.”
The Gathering features pieces of flash fiction of up to 500 words with entries from creative writers of all ages.
You can view the stories online if you dare to download them at derryhalloween.com/thegathering
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